Michael Higdon's probable SFA punishment prompts Motherwell's Stuart McCall to channel frustration over editing

Tuesday 24 January 2012

FOR a moment it seemed as though the cameras had failed to capture Michael Higdon's best side.

McCall: 'Is there a need for a compliance officer or is it who edits Sportscene? Picture: SNS

Custom byline text:

Chris Tait

The Motherwell striker has not been a popular signing among a section of the club's support, and his goal on Saturday appeared to prompt a reaction to their unrelenting criticism. In went the ball and up shot his arm, a defiant motion which seemed to have been directed towards fans. It was an action which popped up again when the Clydesdale Bank Premier League's highlights appeared on television, the editing affording it deliberate prominence.

Stuart McCall may well have offered his own incendiary gesture towards his television afterwards. Higdon's reaction had barely registered with the Motherwell manager at the time, but it was duly pored over in a television studio and is likely to be reviewed again by Vincent Lunny, the Scottish Football Association's compliance officer. A notice of complaint should appear on McCall's desk this afternoon.Higdon is understood to have refuted the suggestion that he was gesturing at supporters, while his manager was adamant it had been borne from frustration at the striker's own performance and some harsh words he received at half-time. That matters little given the attention the incident has already been given.Much of that is because gesturing at those in the stands is in vogue at the moment. Leigh Griffiths proved that his impudence is boundless when he flicked a finger at Hibernian fans at the weekend, just two weeks after he was given a suspension for a similar infraction. Having also been banned for motioning at Rangers fans this season, the on-loan Wolves man may well be on first-name terms with Lunny by now.Given the SFA compliance officer has already set a precedent by punishing Griffiths' indiscretions, he will be expected to continue to act against them. That means Higdon could be punished, although McCall has promised to appeal any action "100%". Of course, you cannot go around telling your own fans what they can do with their opinions, but McCall has been irked by the editing of the TV footage insinuating that both incidents are comparable; that Higdon was guilty of an act of deviance rather than defiance of the misgivings he had about his performance. "I can guarantee you now, the half-hearted gesture that he made wasn't at the fans," said the Motherwell manager, whose side face Dunfermline Athletic tonight. "It's not a 'get it right up you', it's a bit of frustration at himself and relief. For Higdon's to be compared to Griffiths' [on TV] made me fall off my settee. My settee is big as well, I hurt my neck. It's not comparable whatsoever." And yet it was, and will continue to be. Which raises an interesting point; how are such infractions brought to the attention of Lunny? The SFA implemented this new disciplinary system to bring greater efficiency and transparency to such matters and, while the speed at which infringements have been identified and punishments dished out has shown progress, the other part could still be improved. "The bottom line is who trawls for it? Is there a need for a compliance officer or is it who edits Sportscene? I don't know," said McCall. "Are you telling me that the compliance officer watches all six games in their entirety to look for things? If not, then all you need is an editor to put things together. Then, if he supports Rangers, Celtic or Aberdeen do you think he is going to put those little things in?" It is perhaps fortunate that tonight's match against Dunfermline is not being shown live on TV, then. Motherwell have enough to concern themselves as it is, having gone five matches without a league win – dropping to fifth place in the process – although they would not seem unduly concerned. "Even when we were doing well we weren't thinking about it too much; where we were or how many points we were ahead," said defender Shaun Hutchinson. "We've not won in a while and we are desperate to get that back. It was a great result for Dunfermline [on Saturday] so I'm sure they will be coming here in good confidence."Indeed they will, according to Kevin Rutkiewicz. The Dunfermline defender believes the morale-boosting win over Kilmarnock could be the result that keeps his team in the division. "It was probably the best team performance of the year," he said. "We don't need an incentive against Motherwell because a win can take us off the bottom of the table."

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Michael Higdon's probable SFA punishment prompts Motherwell's Stuart McCall to channel frustration over editing

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED